The Emile Short Commission, the body that investigated the violence that marred the January 31 by-election in Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, has presented its report to the President.
Presenting the report Thursday at the seat of government, the Jubilee House, the Chairman of the Commission, said: “I am delighted to stand before you today having delivered on our mandated within what can arguably be said to be a record time.”
“The depth our report, your Excellency, will convince you that all necessary grounds have been covered and I am confident that you will find the findings and recommendations useful and important reforms for the future,” he added.
He also commended the president for his resolve to stamp out what he described as “the evil of ‘electoral violence’ from our body politics.”
Receiving the report on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo thanked the Commission and its Executive Secretary for executing their mandate expeditiously.
“I am happy that at long last the work has come to an end. The findings and recommendations that have been made, will, of course, be given the greatest attention by me and members of my government,” the President told the gathering also made up of Presidential staffers at the presidency.
He added “to the extent that the recommendations of this Commission can help us advance the course of law and order in our country, I will welcome it.”
“We have the responsibility of ensuring the maintenance of law order of our country, and that responsibility is not one which can be abdicated on any occasion, he said.
The Short Commission was set up February 6, to produce a report in a month. This follows violence that marred the January 31, by-election at Ayawaso West Wuogon.
There was unbridled assault on civilians by masked men as the police appeared helpless in controlling the situation at the La Bawaleshie polling stations. Ningo-Prampram NDC MP Sam George was slapped while at least 15 people were reported injured.
The Commission which was made up a former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Emile Short, law professor, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, former Inspector-General of Police, Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, had a former Dean of GIMPA school of law, Kofi Abotsi as its Executive Secretary.
Their mandate was to among other things unravel the circumstances which led to the violence and make recommendations to forestall future occurrence.
The Commission heard testimonies from critical actors in that by-election, including the Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu, the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu and the Member of Parliament for the Nimgo Prampram Constituency, Sam George.
Of greater focus during the sitting of the Commission was vigilantism, what is best described as party militarism. It is generally held that the violence that marred the Ayawaso violence was perpetrated by militias who owe allegiance to the NDC and the NPP.
Testimonies before the commission also reflected the fact that some party loyalists have been enlisted into the State security.
It is expected that the Short Commission’s report, will punish the perpetrators of the January 31 violence, but most importantly identify the causes and sponsors of party militia and make recommendations on ending the menace
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